Landing sites
The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Fisheries Salim Mvurya Mgala has said, his Ministry will construct Landing sites in the Coast Region to the tune of Sh1.4 billion. Speaking to Beach Management Units (BMU) members in Kipini area of Tana River County yesterday, Mvurya said, a landing site will be constructed at Kipini a cost of Sh1.1million this year.
The Cabinet Secretary also disclosed that the Kipini BMUs will be given Sh206 million by the government to improve their fishing gears such as boats, fishing nets among others. Mvurya said the Ministry of Fisheries will train 150 youths from Tana River as coxswains to drive fishing boats, adding that the Ministry was ready to train 50 youths from Tana River on how to mend life saver jackets free of charge.
The CS was responding to remarks made by BMUs chairman Mr.Omar Ahmed who decried the fact that fishermen in Kipini were experiencing problems while fishing in the Indian Ocean due to strong winds, poor fishing gears and lack of professional training.
Speaking at the same function, Tana River County Governor Major RTD Dadho Godana called on the Ministry of Fisheries to train youths and provide them with better fishing gears in order to uplift their living standards and income capacity.
Governor Godana pointed out that the fishermen in Kipini area have been using poor fishing gears hence, netting small catch which cannot feed their families as well as sale for income. The Governor called on the National government to build a wall along the Indian Ocean neighbouring Kipini area to avoid the damaging of sea shores along Kipini.
Also present was the Tana River County Senator Danson Buya Mungata who supported the Coast Region governors for banning the entry of Muguka in their Counties, saying Muguka is harmful to human health because its undermines the productivity of human beings.
Mungata said the governors of Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Taita Taveta did an honourable thing to ban Muguka in their counties to protect the youths who are the victims.